MetaFilter trademark.

June 20, 2002 7:22 PM

MetaFilter is trademarked! Woo!
One problem.. it's not trademarked by Matt ;-) Randomly stumbled across this during an adventure through the trademark archives. The 'METAFILTER' trademark was filed in 1946, and was last renewed in 1988. It is still 'live'. Watch out, Matt. The 'Metafiltration Company' might be on your back if they take a fancy to this site!
posted by wackybrit to MetaFilter-Related at 7:22 PM (13 comments total)

My brother-in-law is an intellectual property/trademark specialist and assures me there's no problem with someone in another business sector entirely using the trademark. When it comes to ICANN and domains however, I'm not so sure, but I doubt this ever becomes much of a problem.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:26 PM on June 20, 2002

Why, I thought everybody had a MetaFilter at home!

posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:30 PM on June 20, 2002

Poop poop poop, it appears my link was sessioned. I tested it in another browser to see if it'd work, and my assumptions were wrong ;-)

Tried to get a session-less URL for the MetaFilter patent, but have failed so far.. so feel free to delete this somewhat useless thread!

Let's just hope that 'fluid filters' don't become a big thing in the next few years. We might have to merge with k..kh.. kh.. kh.. Kuro5hin again!
posted by wackybrit at 7:38 PM on June 20, 2002

Matt, yes, technically that is true. But where domains are concerned, you can still get slammed. I used to have a domain name for my personal site that was the same as a furniture company's trademark (well, technically, I still do -- it's just not a .com anymore), and it became a messy, ugly legal issue. I was in no way infringing, but that doesn't prevent someone from threatening legal action, getting a domain name shut down, etc.

Sadly, being in the right doesn't always mean you will win in these things.
posted by litlnemo at 7:42 PM on June 20, 2002

If it came down to it, we could probably just pool some funds and buy the damn company, if its still in business. Screw paying lawyers to defend us in court. Or if they are publicly traded, we could try to take over the board of directors with a stock grab, and fire whoever's in charge.
posted by insomnyuk at 7:51 PM on June 20, 2002

And, if you Google "metafiltration company limited" (without enclosing it in quotes), you get this page, which points right back here, thus completing the circle.

It all wraps up so neatly.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:47 PM on June 20, 2002

Whoa, there's some really mean stuff on that guy's site about the Haughey, Crash. He can insult the other 'A' people all he wants, but the Haughey? That's too much...
posted by evanizer at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2002

Yeah, ev, the guy's a putz, but since I'm a Utahn whenever I hear the name "Bennett" I think of this guy, who happens to be a major putz, so it all evens out in the end.

Does that make any sense? I'm halfway into a cold case of cheap beer, so I can't tell.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:28 PM on June 20, 2002

Gawd. "Font Kiddiez'" ? What the hell is his issue? Sounds like an old man dressed in black socks and seersuckers trying to chase kids off his lawn. F-wit.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 3:19 AM on June 21, 2002

kev, you meant fuckwit right?
posted by jcterminal at 4:37 AM on June 21, 2002

heheh... Why yes I did jc. Guess I shouldn't hold back eh? ;)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:43 AM on June 21, 2002

Holding back on MeFi? Fuck no!

*kicks over chair and sets it on fire*
posted by dangerman at 9:43 AM on June 21, 2002

Ha! "Font Kiddiez." That's pretty funny, I think. At least it's original. :-)
posted by rusty at 10:58 AM on June 21, 2002